Baillaud is a
lunar
Lunar most commonly means "of or relating to the Moon".
Lunar may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lunar'' (series), a series of video games
* "Lunar" (song), by David Guetta
* "Lunar", a song by Priestess from the 2009 album ''Prior t ...
impact crater
An impact crater is a depression (geology), depression in the surface of a solid astronomical body formed by the hypervelocity impact event, impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal c ...
that is located near the north limb of the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...
. The rim of the crater has been eroded and worn by a long history of impacts, leaving a hilly ridge surrounding the interior. The crater
Euctemon
Euctemon (, ''gen.'' Εὐκτήμωνος; fl. 432 BC) was an Athenian astronomer. He was a contemporary of Meton and worked closely with this astronomer. Little is known of his work apart from his partnership with Meton and what is mentioned b ...
is intruding into the rim to the northeast, and the rim bulges outward to the northwest. At the south end of the crater is a gap connecting to the
lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...
-flooded surface to the south.
The interior of Baillaud has been submerged by past lava flows, leaving a flat surface that is marked only by many craterlets and the satellite crater Baillaud E in the western half. The crater interior lacks a central peak or significant ridges.
Nearby craters include the irregular
Meton
Meton of Athens (; ''gen''.: Μέτωνος) was a Greek mathematician, astronomer, geometer, and engineer who lived in Athens in the 5th century BC. He is best known for calculations involving the eponymous 19-year Metonic cycle, which he int ...
formation to the southwest, and
Petermann further to the east. Due to its location, Baillaud appears oblong because of foreshortening along the line of sight to
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...
.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Baillaud.
See also
*
11764 Benbaillaud, asteroid named after Benjamin Baillaud
*
1280 Baillauda, asteroid named after his son,
Jules Baillaud
Jules Baillaud (14 January 1876, Paris – 28 November 1960) was a French astronomer. Initially assistant astronomer in Lyon (1900–1904) and at the Paris observatory: assistant astronomer until 1925, he went on as astronomer from 1925 to 1947. Fr ...
References
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External links
Image of the crater http://www.lpod.org/coppermine/displayimage.php?pos=-1571
{{Craters on the Moon: A–B
Impact craters on the Moon